Electric-traction system.



PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906.

APPLICATION FILED MAE.31,1905.

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.J. P. GORMAN, JR. ELECTRIC TRACTION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1905.

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JAMES P. GOR-MAN, JR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELEOTRIC-TRACTEON SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

Application filed March 31,1905. Serial No. 253,180.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES P. GORMAN, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Electric- Traction System, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to systems of electrical traction, and more especially to those receiving current from series of separated contact devices.

It consists in the various features and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

' Figure 1 shows in side elevation a portion of a system to which one embodiment of my invention is applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section therethrough. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the upper portion of one of the contact-poles. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a broken top planview in section of the car-contact device. Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail through the lower portion of a pole and its junction-box.

There are here shown adjacent tracks having the usual rails 10 10, over which operate trains or car units, as indicated at 11. Between the tracks and preferably below the level thereof extends a conduit 12, at suitable intervals in which are junction-boxes 13. Through the conduit and junction boxes run insulated conductors 14, which are here shown as two in number. Each junctionbox is provided with a cover-plate 15, from which rises a socket 16 to receive a pole 17, set-screws 18 being threaded through the walls of the socket to contact with the pole and secure it in place. Each of the poles is preferably hollow and has at its upper extremity a flange 19, which is received by a recess in an insulating-plate 20. At each side of this insulating-plate are situated bearing-plates 21 21 which may be formed from any appropriate wear-resisting material and which support opposite contact-blocks 22 22. At the outer side of each contact-block is a contact-face 22 to which lead at its opposite edges inclined faces 22". Through the insulating-plate, bearing-plates, and contactblocks are alined openings to receive vertical conductors 23 E23, which at their lower ends are spliced to the conductors 14. Between the contact-blocks is interposed an insulat ing spring-block 24, conveniently of soft rubber and having a contracted portion 25, furnishing at each side recesses to receive projecting portions 25 on the contact blocks, through which the conductors 23 pass and which retain the block 24 against lateral movement. Upon the tops of the contact blocks rest bearing-plates 26, similar to the plates 21, and over these is an insulatingplate 27. The conductors 23 may be cov ered with insulating material within the pole, but above the top of said pole are bare to effect proper conducting contact with the blocks 22. Their upper ends project above the insulatingplate 27, where they are shown as threaded to receive nuts 28, which draw all the plates and blocks toward the top of the pole to secure them in place. The extremities of the conductors and the nuts may be protected to prevent short circuiting by moisture by an insulating-cap 29, having recesses to receive the nuts and which is fixed in place by a screw 30, threaded into the plate 27. To insure a perfect insulation of the junctures of the conductors 14 and 23 within the junctionboxes, the poles may extend somewhat below the cover-plates and enter a fluid insulating material, such as tar, which is indicated at 31. This effectually seals the conductors against access of moisture, even if the joint between the box and cover leaks.

Mounted upon the sides of the cars are contact members or bars 32, supported for cooperation with the contact-blocks 22 and being of such length that they will always be in engagement with a block upon one of the poles of the system. Along the inner side of these bars at suitable intervals are bosses 33 to re ceive threaded rods 34, which pass through insulating-bushings 35, situated in openings in the car-frame. At the outer end of each of these bushings is shown a flange 36, countersunk in the car structure and holding the element against inward movement, while at its inner end the rod is surrounded by an insulating-washer 37, with which contacts a nut 38, clamping the rod in place. Between this clamping-nut and a binding-nut 39 is fixed the end of a conductor 40, leading to the motor-circuit of the car, the other terminal of which is connected with the rails in the usual manner. Surrounding each of the rods 34 outer contactfaces.

outside the bushing is an insulating-sleeve 41, the opposite ends of which adjacent to the car and to the bar-bosses contact with metallic washers 42. The outer side 43 of each bar serves as a contact-face for cooperation with the pole-blocks, and at each end of the bar is a movable end section 44, which may be pivoted at 45. These sections are held normally outward in alinement with the bar by springs 46 and have at their outer extremities inclined faces 47, leading to the As the car-bars.pass from one contact-pole to the next the faces 47 of the end sections strike the faces 22 of the blocks and by their yield against the tension of the springs gradually bring the contact-faces 43 of the bars into cooperation with the faces 22 of the blocks. These blocks may also move between the bearingblocks, they swinging upon the conductors against the elastic insulating-blocks, and thus accommodate themselves to the bars.

As regards safety, this system presents all the advantages of separated contact conduction, there being no two live points so readily accessible that a person is liable to touch them both at the same time. Moreover, the arrangement of the poles renders the construction comparatively inexpensive and secure against leakage and allows a single line of poles to serve two tracks.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A contact device for electric-traction systems comprising a pole, a conductor extending throu h the pole and having its upper end threac ed, a contact-block surrounding the conductor, and a nut operating upon the conductorthread above the contactblock.

2. A contact device for electric-traction systems comprising a pole, an insulatingplate carried upon the top of the pole, a contact-block situated above the insulatingplate, a second insulating-plate cooperating with the contact-block, and a conductor extending through the pole, block and plates.

3. A contact device for electric-traction systems comprising a pole, an insulatingplate carried upon the top of the pole, a contact-block situated above the insulatingplate, a second insulating-plate cooperating with the contact-block, bearing-plates lying between the contact block and insulatingplate, and a conductor extending through the pole, block and plates.

4. In an electric-traction system, a contact device comprising a pole, conductors extending through the pole, opposite contact-blocks movable upon the conductors above the pole,

and a yieldable insulating-block situated between the contact-blocks.

5. In an electric-traction system, a contact device comprising a pole, conductors extending through the pole, opposite contact-blocks ber and entering the socket, screws threaded through the socket and engaging the pole, and conductors extending through the conduit and pole to the contact member.

7. In an electric-traction system, the combination with a conduit, of a junction-box included therein, a cover for the box providedwith a socket, a pole having a contact member and entering the socket, a fluid insulatin filling within the j unction-box, screws threaded through the socket and engaging the pole, and conductors extending throu h the conduit and pole to the contact mem er.

8. In an electric-traction system, the combination with a conduit, of a junction-box included therein, a cover for the box provided with a socket, a pole having a contact member and entering the socket, a fluid insulating-filling within the junction-box and into which the lower end of the pole extends, screws threaded through the socket and engaging the pole, and conductors extending through the conduit and pole to the contact member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES P. GORMAN, JR. Witnesses:

SYLVANUS H. COBB, EVERARD BOLTON MARsHALL. 

